Integrative Water Quality Assessment And Geostatistical Analysis Of Mining-Impacted Groundwater: A Multi-Parameter Evaluation

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2026

School

Ocean Science and Engineering

Abstract

Water quality in artisanal gold mining regions is severely threatened by a complex mixture of contaminants, yet comprehensive assessments integrating regulatory compliance, source apportionment, and spatial distribution are scarce. This study addresses this gap through an integrative assessment of groundwater in Itagunmodi, Nigeria, employing a standard framework that combines multi-parameter water quality indices (WAWQI, CCME-WQI), statistical hypothesis testing with Cohen's d effect sizes, Pearson correlation analysis, and Empirical Bayesian Kriging (EBK) geostatistics. Fifteen groundwater samples were analyzed for physicochemical parameters, heavy metals, and ions against WHO, NSDWQ, and BIS standards. Hypothesis testing revealed significant (p < 0.05) exceedances of permissible limits for Lead (Pb) (100 % of samples, Cohen's d = 4.05), Cadmium (Cd) (67 %, d = 0.82), and Arsenic (As) (80 %, d = 1.25), classifying overall water quality as ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’. Correlation analysis unveiled significant (p < 0.05) synergistic interactions, most notably between Mercury and Cyanide (r = 0.784, p = 0.0005), indicating joint mobilization from mining activities, and between Total Hardness and Magnesium (r = 0.934, p < 0.001), revealing dolomite dissolution as a key geochemical process. EBK modeling delineated distinct spatial hotspots for individual contaminants, with Pb concentrated in the southwestern zone and As and Hg in the northeast, providing a critical evidence-based map for targeted remediation. The findings demonstrate a severe public health crisis and highlight the inadequacy of lenient regulatory standards. Beyond the local context, this study establishes a replicable, advanced methodology for pollution assessment in mining regions globally, underscoring the necessity of combining multi-index evaluation with geospatial and statistical rigor for sustainable water resource management.

Publication Title

Journal of African Earth Sciences

Volume

235

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